The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-10-15
ART IN THE HOME,
why None But Pictures OF Real Merit
Should he Given House, Room.

why Rome But Pictures OF Real Merit
Should BE Given House, Room.
Most men get their chief education
in the school of life and not in academic
halls, and even those to whom fortune
opens the doors of the university sell
dom take home with them the knowl-
edge of any other art than the art
poetic. The arts of drawing and
music, 1t is true, have at last begun to
receive some attention in our public
schools, and this is well. Instruction
in the art design is also easily obtain
able in most of our large cities. The
fact, nevertheless, remains essentially
as stated--that what most people know
about art they have learned without
instruction, simply by using their own
eyes. Skill in art they have none;
knowledge of the principles of art lit
tie or none; appreciation of art, more
or less, according to the degree in
which they have been favored by cir
| cumstances.
1t follows that the home must neces-
sarily be the chief nursery of art for all
but favored few. But how and to
what extent Is home education in nrt
possiblep Certainly very little can be
done in the way of technical training
apart from competent instruction; but
that which is Of much more importance
than any formal schooling can be ac-
quired by most, namely, some appre-
citation of and consequent delight in
whatever appeals to the cultivated
esthetic sense. In point of fact. even
now, in our own country, that home is
the rare exception in which no picture
hangs upon the walls, to bear witness
to at least the blind cropping after that
which shall satisfy natures longing to
see either her real or her ideal self
painted upon the netted curtain of the
human eye. .5,. t... ..
The influence of dwelling habitually
in the presence of striking work OF
art can hardly be overestimated,
whether the work be of such o char.
acter as to debase or to ennoble. The
pencil of the artist is bribed to make
the den of vice doubly alluring to the
intoxicated senses of the revelcr, while
the glowing ardor of the religious de-
votee III. IS almost to ecstasy as INC
gazes long upon some vivid representa-
tion of the tragedy of Calvary, AS arc
the pictures upon the walls of the home
80 are the pictures hung invisible to al
but ourselves in the chambers of tho
imagination, where, night and day
they make much of the real world il
which we live. Whether we dwell day
by day with a picture or with human
being, the influence of the companion.
ship is hardly greater in the latter cast
than in the former. Who has not, N
some time in his life, been forcibly i'm.
pressed by the circumstance, utterly
meaningless in itself, of his eyes~seem
ing t omeet the gaze of Il portrait hang
ing upon the wallP Beneath the sub
tie influence thus streaming from .
lifeless canvas, many beholder, no
doubt, has been swayed as by super.
nal power, and felt himself urged OF
or held back in some debated course.
. 1t is not every work of art which ha:
| I'LL etiliCui Nuiucf uuI IHC )lCtuIC VI Uii'
statue which simply charms the eye ant
goes no further may yet fulfill worth,
mission-for the simple enjoyment o
beauty is rs legitimate an affection o
, the mind as any other. So that the sen
: timent of the work be pure, we need no
demand of it II moral lesson.
One good work of art does more t
beautify the home than crowd of in
ferior productions. 1t is better to saw
our pennies for years, until with the ac
1 emulation something really good cal
be purchased, than to fritter away ou
resources upon what will give no last
n ing pleasure. Let us, if possible, hav
pictures which, from their excellence
!. there is no chance of our outgrowing
y This is far from impossible, even t
those whose circumstances necessitat
. strict economy, now that the sun ha
taken to being an artist and furnishe
: to all comers excellent fac-similes q
' the best that the skill of man has eve
: been able to produce. The camera, til
. graver's tool and the printing pres
e have brought to every mans door al
d most every treasure of Chautaa
y | 1hQn.